Typical job interview questions

Preparation is essential for interview success, so to help you to prepare you should think about how you might respond to the following typical interview questions. Please note you will only be asked a selection of questions from the following lists, not all of them.

Remember that an interview is a two way process, if you want to, you can ask any questions about the job or the company. Remember to keep these positive and avoid questions about pay, holidays or benefits.

Common interview questions

• Tell me a little bit about yourself?
• Why are you applying for this job?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• What do you know about this company?
• What do you think this job entails?
• What experience and qualities can you bring to this job?
• What interests you most about this job?
• Can you describe a time when you have been required to work as part of a team?
• What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
• What achievement has given you most satisfaction?
• How would your friends and colleagues describe you?
• What would be your training and development needs be if you were successful?

Other interview questions

• Where would you like to see yourself five years’ time?
• What did you like about your last job?
• What was a typical day in your last job like?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• Have you had to deal with any challenging situations? If so, how?
• What decisions did you take in your last job?
• In your last job what were your key responsibilities?
• If you are successful what will be your priorities be on joining this company/organisation?
• What kind of people do you like to work with?
• What kind of people do you find it difficult to work with?
• Have you worked successfully with this sort of person?
• What kind of decisions do you find difficult to make?
• Why did you leave a previous job?
• What interested you least about your last job?
• What are some of the things you find difficult to do?
• Do you have any questions for me?